Game of skill



Jan. 6, 1931. H. J. PEO` Y GAME OF SKILL Filed oct. 22, 1930 l. A l

gm'nto@ jan. 6, 1931.

H. J. PEO

GAME oF SKILL Filed oct. 22, 195o 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ho RD LP50 @www PatentedJan. 6',` 19131 man3 Param' OFFICE HOWARD.; EE0, or ROCHESTER, NEW Yome GAME or SKILL Application filed October 22, 1930. Serial No. 490,493.

l The present invention relates to game apparatus and consists in the combinations and arrangements of 4elements hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the accompanying claims.

The invention has for its purpose to provide a game of simple and attractive appearance, which may be played by anyone without requiring experience or previous knowledge, and wherein the elements of dexterity and skill are so balanced or designed that it may be repeatedly operated by one and the same person with ever increasing interest and reasonable uncertainty of result.

The invention further contemplates offering to the public an interesting and novel game to be played by one or more persons at the minimum possible cost-one cent per game-and which willinno way conflict with .20 the law-respecting coin control machines, or

in the least offend the moral sense of the public.

It is further proposed to offer an entirely new or novel apparatus which is so attractivelydesigned in that it will be prominently y displayed in the shops of merchants, or generall'y in places where people assemble and which will suggest orprompt those seeing it with a desire to play. The game may be 0perated with equal skill and enjoyment by children or adults.

In the operation of thepgame skill is the essential factor which contributes to successfully playing and obtaining a high score.

The 'game board or playing surface is set verticalfor upstanding and accordingly each ball for its complete traverse is atall times in full view for `tracing by the player. so that after projection or shooting he may foretell with reasonable certainty the probable score of each play. a

The'simplicity of construction of the machine is such that it may be manufactured in quantities atv reasonably small cost to the end that any onewith comparatively small may own and operate a number of capital the machines located at widely diverse-points.

No special mechanical skill `is essential for keeping a number of the machines in perfect working order at all times and each machine ther described.

is Wholly self-contained and of such over-all dimensions that it will. occupy the minimum space for transportation or where it is set up for playing.

The invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, wherein: y Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the machine complete.. v

Figure 2 a transverse sectional view thereof e0 taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 a rear elevational View with the back of the casing removed.

Figure 4 a detailed view in front elevation showing the coiled or spiral race-wayv and ball receiving pockets, and

Figure 5 a side elevational view ofthe part shown in Figure 4.

Referring to the construction in further detail and wherein similar reference lcharac- 7o ters designate corresponding parts 'in the different figures shown, the machine`consists of asuitable casing 6 of sheet metal having preferably a wooden base 7 and top 8 which. are so proportioned that the front or operating face of the machine is set upright and slightly inclined to the rear for easy playing and convenient inspection as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The 'characteristic feature of the game is so a coiled or spiral race-way which is formed by a channel or groove 9 in the front face of a plate 10 suitably secured within the casing. Said spiral race-way is provided with a tangentially disposed entrance 11 located on. 85 the right side of the machine, and at its lower or terminal len d communicates with a magazine 12 from which the ball members 13 are separately shot through therace-way by the arm 14 of a projecting device tov be fur- 90 The respective convolutions or divisionsof the coil or spiral are closelyassembled as 'shown in Figures 1 and 4, and the entire raceway covers the greater front' portion ofthe 95 machine and is in full View through the glass cover land ball retaining plate 15, which is suitably set within the casing byl ther-metal frame-piece 16.` In like manner the trans parent plate, aords a full and'clear view'of 100 the several ball receiving pockets 17 and the entire trace of the balls as they are separately played. i

Each of the coils of the game board is provided with an exit opening 18 (Figure 4) to receive the ball and direct its passage through a returning channel-way 19 formed in the casing piece 20 which is in turn secured to the rear face of the plate 9 (Figure 2). The several exit openings 18 are disposed in straight vertical alinement and substantially along a medial position at the front of the machine, and each of said openings has indicia indicating a score value. Thus the innermost opening at the central coil 9 is designated Out, the next adjacent is marked 50, the next 40. and so on to the outermost coil which has the value of 10. That is to say, the exit openings of the respective coils have score values which are mai'iimum and then decrease towards the periphery of the coil. And for each exit opening 18 there is a corresponding pocket or receiver 17 which communicates therewith through its respective channel-way 19 as clearly illustrated in Figure 1. Thus 1n the playing of the game the ball which passes through the innermost opening 18 find-s its way to the corresponding pocket des1gnated"0ut, and in like manner the balls will pass from the openings 40, 30, 20, etc., and ultimately fall into the corresponding pockets 17 designated 40, 30, and 20, etc..

It is proposed to use the machine with five balls though it will be understood of course any greater or lesser number may be employed for properly playing the game. However, it is believed the most satisfactory results are obtainable with the use of five balls. After each game the five balls are held in one or more of the pockets 17 .by a shelf 21 which is normally maintained in its retaining position (Figure 2) by the spring 22. Said shelf is provided with a cam element or lug 23 that cooperates with a releasing or slidable latch 24 mounted on the back of the plate 10. When the balls are releasedby the shelf 21 they fall into the inclined passageway 25 formed ni the base of the plate 10 and by gravity run into the magazine 12 which communicates with the passage-way 25 as shown in Figures 1 and 4.

The plate member 10 providing the spiral race-way 9, the channel-ways 11 and 12, pockets 17, and magazine 25, is cast as a separate piece, and together with the portion 20 constitutes a single unitary structure or article of manufacture.

The released balls are' temporarily held within the channel-way 25 by a finger or bar 26 projecting through the opening 27 (see Figures 1 and 4) into the path of said balls, and said bar is secured to and operates with the shelf 21 by connection with the lug 23 thereof. After release by the bar 26 the five balls run into the magazine 12 from which they are separately expelled or shot into the spiral race-way by the projecting bar 14 as already explained. Thus in Figure l three of the balls have already been played and two remain to be shot.

The ball projecting member 14 secured to a shaft 28 having a strong tension spring 29 and a finger piece or trigger 30. In opera-4 tion the trigger 30 is depressed by any finger of the hand-preferably the thumband when released will ily back under the tension of the spring 29 causing the bar 14 to instantly strike the ball 13 with considerable force and cause the same to traverse the raccway for a distance commensurate .with th(` power of the trigger-spring at the instant oi' its release.

The operation of the machine is eiiected by a suitable coin controlled mechanism shown in Figures 2 and 3, and comprising a dial plate 31 notched on its periphery to receive al coin-preferably a cent-and through which coin the cam portion 32 of the arm 33 is turned an angular distance against the tension of spring 34. The arm 33 is iixedly mounted on and serves to operate the shaft 35, which is journalled in the side walls of the casing (Figure 3) and an arm or yoke member 36 secured on the shaft 35 co-acts with the cam or lug'portion 23 of the shelf 21 to release saidshelf member and permit the balls to fall into the passageway 25 when they have been played, and are collected in one or more of the pockets 17. In like manner a yoke-piece or arm 37, secured to t-he shaft 35 co-acts with the scar 38 of the trigger shaft 28 and when said sear is depressed the pawl 39 is freed to permit the shaft 35 to be turned under the tension of spring 34C and thereby restoring the shelf 21 to its normal or ball retaining position. This simultaneously removes the finger` or bar 26 from the path of the balls collected and retained in the passage-way 25, and the balls thus released will run into the magazine as shown. A spring 40 normally keeps the pawl 39 in operative position with respect to sear 38 of the trigger or projecting device.

It is to be understood that I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details'of construction and arrangement herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of the invention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A game apparatus comprising an upstanding and flat spiral race-way having exit openings, channel-ways leading from said openings, pocketsv'at the terminals of the respective channel-ways, and a ball member adapted to be projected along the race-way,

and pass through one ofv said openings, substantially as set forth.

2. A vgame apparatus comprising a fiatl spiral race-Way having exit openings in straight radial alinement, channel-Ways leading'from said openings, pockets in parallel relation at the terminals of the respective" channel-Ways, and va ball member ladapted to be projected alongthe race-Way, and'fpass through one of said openings, substantially as set forth. Y l 3. A 'game apparatus comprisingl an upstanding and spiral race-Way having exit and said pockets, and a ball member adapted to be projected through the race-way, `substantially as set forth. j p

'4. Agame apparatus comprising a flat spiral race-.Way having a pluralityof exit openings in straight radial alinement, said openings having indicia denoting different scores, recelving pockets. communicatlng with said openings and having characters' corresponding with the indicia of the exit openings, andl a plurality of ball members adapted to be projected through therace-4 jway, substantially as set forth.

5. A game apparatus comprising `an upi standing and flat spiral race-Way having av plurality of exit openings in straight radial alinement, said openings having indicia denoting different scores, receiving pockets communicatingwith said openings Vand having characters corresponding with the indicia of the exit openings, a transparent ball retaining and cover plate overlyin the race- 'ay and said pockets, and a plura ity of ball members adapted to be projectedthrough the race-Way, substantially as set forth;

6. game apparatus comprising a coiled race-Way havinga plurality of exit openings, passageways leading from said openings respectively, pockets at the terminal ends of said passageways, a releasable shelf closing the ends of said pockets, a magazine communicating With the pockets, and a ball prosubstantially as setvforth. I

7. A game apparatus comprising an upjecting device associatedv with the magazine',

I standingand lat spiral race-Way vhaving a plurality of exit openings, passage-ways leading from said exit openings respectively, pockets at the terminal ends of said passageways, a releasable shelf closing the ends of saidpockets, and a transparent cover and ball retaining plate overlying said race-way and the pockets, substantially `as set forth.

4 8. A game apparatus comprising a spiralv race-way having a tangentially disposed entrance and a radially disposed series of exit openings, a plurality of ball members, a plurality of pockets connected to communicate vvith the pockets, vice associated with the magazine-and the with said -ez-:it openings respectively, a magazine communicating with the pockets, and

a ball projecting device associated v vithv the magazine and the tangential entrance-way, substantially as set forth. l

9. A game apparatus comprising 'a coiled and upstanding race-way having'a tangentially disposed entrance, members, a plurality of pockets connected to communicate with said coil `members respectively, a transparent cover the. race-way, the tangential entrance-way and said pockets; a magazine communicating and a vball projecting detangential entrance-way, substantially as set forth.

,10. A gameapparatus comprising aspiral race-way. having a tangentially disposed entrance, a radially disposed series of exit openings formed in the respective coils of the race-Way, said openings having indicia denoting scores of maximum and` then decreasing values towards the peripheral edge of the race-Way, and receiving pockets connected to communicate with said exit openings respectively, substantially as set forth'.

11. A game apparatus comprising a flat spiral and upstanding race-Way-having a tangentially disposed entrance,a radially disposed series of exit openings formed in plate overlying y a plurality of ball t the respective coils of the race-Way, said openings having indicia, the center openingv denoting a' zero score and the other openings l,denoting scores of maximum and then decreasing values towards the peripheral edge of the race-Way, and vertically arranged receivlng pockets connected to vcommunicate With said exit openings respectively, substantially as set forth.

12. A 'game board comprising a `suitablc support, an upstanding and flat spiral racevvay mounted thereon and having exit openingsin its respective coils, a plurality of ball members, receiving pockets connected to communicate with the exit openings, a ball projecting device, and a transparent cover and ball retaining plateoverl ing the race- Way, the ball entrance-Way an vthe receiving pockets, substantially as set forth. j 13. A gameapparatus comprising a caslng, an upstanding and coiled race-Way closing the front of the casing, exit openings 'in the coils of the race-Way, receiving pockets communicating with lsaid exit openingsrespectively, a plurality of ball-members, a releasing shelf normally closing the pockets, a ball retaining bar, a magazine communicating with Vthe pockets adjacent the ball retainball retaining bar whereby to release the balls into the magazine for playing, substantially as set forth.

14. As an article of manufacture, a game apparatus part comprising a plate having formed on one face an upstanding flange providing a spiral race-way with the coils i thereof lying in a common plane, a radial lseries of-ball exit apertures in the coils of the spiral adapted to pass a ball traversing the race-way, ball receiving pockets, and channel-ways connecting said pockets with the ball exit apertures respectively, substantially as set forth.

15. As an article of manufacture, a game apparatus part comprising a plate formedwith an upstanding flange providing a spiral race-way, ball exlt apertures in the coils adapted to pass a ball traversing the race- Way, ball receiving pockets, means providing channel-ways connecting said pockets with the respective exit apertures, all of said elements constituting a single unitary structure, substantially as set forth.

16. As' an article of manufacture, a game apparatus part comprising a plate having formed on one face a spiral race-way with the coils thereof lying in a common plane, ball exit apertures in the coils adapted to pass a ball traversing the race-way, ball receiving pockets, and a magazine chamber, allof saidelements comprising a single and unitary structure, substantially as set forth.

17. As an article of manufacture, a game apparatus part comprising a plate having formed on one face a spiral race-way with the coils lying in a common plane, ball eXit apertures in the respective coils, ball receiving pockets each havin an inlet aperture, and a magazine cham er communicating with said pockets, all of said elements being embodied in a single cast unit, substantially as set forth.

18. As an article of manufacture, a game apparatus part comprising a plate casting 4having formed on one face a spiral raceway with the coils thereof lying in a common p-lane, ball exit aperturesin the coils g of the spiral, ball receiving pockets each having an inlet aperture, and a channeled cast- .ing secured to the plate casting providing communication between the respective exit and lnlet apertures, said elements constituting a single unitary structure, substantiallyV as set forth.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Rochester, New York, this 14th day of October, A. D. nineteen hundred and thirty.

HOWARD J. PEO. 

